View angle control device
A view angle control device includes light transmission layers that are arranged at intervals and through which light passes, electrochromic layers having light absorption spectrum characteristics according to voltages applied thereto, the electrochromic layers and the light transmission layers being arranged alternately, first electrodes disposed on one side with respect to the electrochromic layers and arranged to be overlapped with the respective electrochromic layers and contacted with the respective electrochromic layers, and a second electrode disposed on an opposite side from the first electrodes with respect to the electrochromic layers and arranged to be overlapped with and contacted with the electrochromic layers.
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This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/748,261 filed on Oct. 19, 2018. The entire contents of the priority application are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe technology described herein relates to a view angle control device.
BACKGROUND ARTA liquid crystal display device including a view angle control component has been known and one example thereof is described in Japanese Patent No. 4774957. The liquid crystal display device includes a view angle control component between a liquid crystal display element and a surface light source arranged on the opposite side from its observation side. The view angle control component includes a layered structure in which transparent layers and electrochromic layers are arranged alternately in parallel to a surface of the liquid crystal display element. The view angle control component is formed in a film shape having an incident/outgoing surface parallel to the surface of the liquid crystal display element. The view angle control component includes a pair of electrodes at both ends thereof in a direction orthogonal to the layered direction, and the electrodes are provided for supplying electric power to the electrochromic layers. The view angle control component is arranged so that interfaces between the transparent layers and electrochromic layers are disposed substantially in parallel to the normal direction of the liquid crystal display element.
The view angle control component is configured to control a view angle when the pair of electrodes are supplied with electric power; however, the view angle control component does not control the view angle if the pair of electrodes are supplied with no power. Namely, the view angle control component is configured to either control the view angle or not. Therefore, the view angel control component does not have any variation in controlling the view angle and cannot adjust the view angle.
SUMMARYThe technology described herein was made in view of the above circumstances. An object is to increase variation in controlling a view angle.
A view angle control device according to the technology described herein includes light transmission layers that are arranged at intervals and through which light passes, electrochromic layers having light absorption spectrum characteristics according to voltages applied thereto, the electrochromic layers and the light transmission layers being arranged alternately, first electrodes disposed on one side with respect to the electrochromic layers and arranged to be overlapped with the respective electrochromic layers and contacted with the respective electrochromic layers, and a second electrode disposed on an opposite side from the first electrodes with respect to the electrochromic layers and arranged to be overlapped with and contacted with the electrochromic layers.
According to the technology described herein, variation in controlling a view angle can be increased.
A first embodiment will be described with reference to
The view angle control sheet 10 is used in combination with a display device that displays an image so that an angle range in which the image displayed on the display device can be seen, that is, a view angle can be controlled. For example, the view angle control sheet 10 may be used in combination with a liquid crystal display device that includes a liquid crystal panel as a display panel. In such a configuration, the view angle control sheet 10 is preferably arranged between the liquid crystal panel and a backlight unit that supplies light to the liquid crystal panel for displaying. Other than such a configuration, the view angle control sheet 10 may be arranged on the liquid crystal panel on an opposite side from the backlight unit side. The view angle control sheet 10 may be used in combination with an organic EL display device that includes an organic EL display panel as the display panel. In such a configuration, the view angle control sheet 10 is preferably arranged on the organic EL panel on a light exit side (on a user's side). Other than the above configurations, a specific type of a display device that may be combined with the view angle control sheet 10 may be altered as appropriate.
As illustrated in
The light transmission layers 11 are made of substantially transparent synthetic resin material such as acrylic resin material or epoxy resin material, and a thickness of each light transmission layer 11 is about 20 μm to 100 μm, for example. As illustrated in
The electrochromic layers 12 are made of electrochromic material such as prussian blue or tungsten oxide. The electrochromic material used for the electrochromic layers 12 varies its optical characteristics such as optical absorptance and optical transmittance according to applied voltage. In the present embodiment, the electrochromic layers 12 have light absorption spectrum characteristics such that the optical absorptance is increased and the optical transmittance is lowered when a voltage is applied and power is supplied compared to a case when no voltage is applied and no power is supplied. Specifically, the electrochromic layers 12 according to the present embodiment are substantially transparent and are less likely to absorb light and the light is transmitted therethrough when no power is supplied thereto, and the electrochromic layers 12 exert a dark color such as black due to an oxidation-reduction reaction and absorb most of the light rays and block the light when power is supplied thereto. A potential difference of about from 2V to 5V is necessary for shifting a state of the electrochromic layers 12 from a light transmissive state to a light blocking state.
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More specifically, as illustrated in
The view angle control sheet 10 according to the present embodiment has the above configuration. Next, operations of the view angle control sheet 10 used in combination with a display device will be described with reference to
First, when each of the electrode connecting sections 17, 18 is supplied with no power, each of the electrodes 15 to 18 is supplied with no power. In this state, no voltage is applied to the electrochromic layers 12 and the oxidation-reduction reaction is not caused, and all of the electrochromic layers 12 are in the light transmissive state, as illustrated in
On the other hand, when each of the electrode connecting sections 17, 18 is supplied with power, the electrodes 15, 16 are supplied with power. In this state, voltage is applied to all of the electrochromic layers 12 and the oxidation-reduction reaction is caused, and all of the electrochromic layers 12 are in the light blocking state, as illustrated in
Next, when the one first electrode connecting section 17A is supplied with no power and other electrode connecting sections 17B, 18A, 18B are supplied with power, the first electrodes 15 included in the other first electrode group 15G2 and all of the second electrodes 16 are supplied with power. In this state, among the electrochromic layers 12, voltage is applied to the second electrochromic layers 12B and the fourth electrochromic layers 12D and therefore, the oxidation-reduction reaction is caused and the second electrochromic layers 12B and the fourth electrochromic layers 12D are in the light blocking state, as illustrated in
Next, if the one first electrode connecting section 17A and the other second electrode connecting section 18B are supplied with no power and the other first electrode connecting section 17B and the one second electrode connecting section 18A are supplied with power, the first electrodes 15 included in the other first electrode group 15G2 and the second electrodes 16 included in the one second electrode group 16G1 are supplied with power. In this state, among the electrochromic layers 12, voltage is applied to the second electrochromic layers 12B and therefore, the oxidation-reduction reaction is caused and the second electrochromic layers 12B are in the light blocking state, as illustrated in
As described before, according to the view angle control sheet 10 of the present embodiment, any one of the at least four kinds of view angle control patterns A to D illustrated in
As described before, the view angle control sheet (the view angle control device) 10 according to the present embodiment includes the light transmission layers 11, the electrochromic layers 12, the first electrodes 15, and the second electrodes 16. The light transmission layers 11 are arranged at intervals and light is transmitted through the light transmission layers 11. The electrochromic layers 12 and the light transmission layers 11 are arranged alternately and the electrochromic layers 12 have light absorption spectrum characteristics according to voltages applied thereto. The first electrodes 15 are disposed on one side of the electrochromic layers 12 to overlap the electrochromic layers 12, respectively, and are contacted with the electrochromic layers 12, respectively. The second electrodes 16 are disposed on an opposite side from the first electrodes 15 with respect to the electrochromic layers 12 to overlap the electrochromic layers 12, respectively, and are contacted with the electrochromic layers 12, respectively.
According to such a configuration, if all of the first electrodes 15 and the second electrodes 16 are supplied with power or no power, the electrochromic layers 12 can be in a high optical absorptance state or a low optical absorptance state. If the optical absorptance of the electrochromic layers 12 is low, the angle of light rays that pass through the light transmission layers 11 is not limited in the arrangement direction of the light transmission layers 11 and the electrochromic layers 12 and therefore, the view angle is not restricted. On the other hand, if the optical absorptance of the electrochromic layers 12 is high, the angle of light rays that pass through the light transmission layers 11 is limited in the arrangement direction and therefore, the view angle is restricted. The first electrodes 15 are arranged to overlap the electrochromic layers 12, respectively. Therefore, the first electrodes 15 are configured such that some of the first electrodes 15 are supplied with power and some of them are supplied with no power and accordingly, the electrochromic layers 12 include those in the high optical absorptance state and those in the low optical absorptance state. If the electrochromic layers 12 are configured to include a large number of electrochromic layers 12 having the high optical absorptance state, the view angle can be controlled to be narrow. If the electrochromic layers 12 are configured to include a large number of electrochromic layers 12 having the low optical absorptance state, the view angle can be controlled to be wide. Thus, the view angle can be adjusted appropriately.
The first electrodes 15 include those included in the first electrode group 15G1 and those included in the first electrode group 15G2. The number of the first electrode connecting sections 17 is same as that of the first electrode groups 15G1, 15G2. The first electrode connecting sections 17 are connected to and short-circuit the first electrodes 15 included in the respective first electrode groups 15G1, 15G2. According to such a configuration, voltage is supplied to the first electrode connecting section 17 so that the first electrodes 15 included in the same first electrode group 15G1 or 15G2 are collectively supplied with power. The number of the first electrode connecting sections 17 is same as that of the first electrode groups 15G1, 15G2. Therefore, it can be selected whether the first electrodes 15 included in each of the first electrode groups 15G1, 15G2 are supplied with power or not by selecting whether or not to supply voltage to each of the first electrode connecting sections 17. Compared to a configuration in which each of the first electrodes 15 is controlled to determine whether or not to be supplied with power, a circuit configuration for controlling power supply to the first electrodes 15 can be simplified.
The first electrode connecting sections 17 are connected to the first electrodes 15 such that the first electrodes 15 that are included in the different first electrode groups 15G1, 15G2 are next to each other. According to such a configuration, the adjacent first electrodes 15 are included in the different first electrode groups 15G1, 15G2. Therefore, if the first electrode connecting sections 17 include one that is supplied with voltage and another one that is supplied with no voltage, the first electrode 15 that is connected to the one first electrode connecting section 17 supplied with voltage and is supplied with power and the first electrode 15 that is connected to the other first electrode connecting section 17 supplied with no voltage and is supplied with no power are arranged next to each other. According to such a configuration, the device can be in the state in which the view angle is restricted and the state in which the view angle is not restricted and also in the state in which the view angle is restricted to be in an intermediate degree between the above two states.
The second electrodes 16 are disposed to overlap the electrochromic layers 12, respectively, and are contacted with the electrochromic layers 12, respectively. According to such a configuration, the electrochromic layers 12 become in the high optical absorptance state or in the low optical absorptance state according to the power supply state where both of the first electrode 15 and the second electrode 16 that are contacted with the same electrochromic layer 12 are supplied with power or at least one of the first electrode 15 and the second electrode 16 that are contacted with the same electrochromic layer 12 is supplied with no power. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the second electrode 16 is a single electrode that is contacted with all of the electrochromic layers 12, power supply or no power supply to the first electrode 15 and the second electrode 16 that are contacted with the same electrochromic layer 12 can be controlled more precisely.
The second electrodes 16 include those included in the second electrode group 16G1 and those included in the second electrode group 16G2. The number of the second electrode connecting sections 18 is same as that of the second electrode groups 16G1, 16G2. The second electrode connecting sections 18 are connected to and short-circuit the second electrodes 16 included in the respective second electrode groups 16G1, 16G2. According to such a configuration, voltage is supplied to the second electrode connecting section 18 so that the second electrodes 16 included in the same second electrode group 16G1 or 16G2 are collectively supplied with power. The number of the second electrode connecting sections 18 is same as that of the second electrode groups 16G1, 16G2. Therefore, it can be selected whether the second electrodes 16 included in each of the second electrode groups 16G1, 16G2 are supplied with power or not by selecting whether or not to supply voltage to each of the second electrode connecting sections 18. Compared to a configuration in which each of the second electrodes 16 is controlled to determine whether or not to be supplied with power, a circuit configuration for controlling power supply or no power supply to the second electrodes 16 can be simplified.
The first electrodes 15 include those included in the first electrode group 15G1 and those included in the first electrode group 15G2. The number of the first electrode connecting sections 17 is same as that of the first electrode groups 15G1, 15G2. The first electrode connecting sections 17 are connected to and short-circuit the first electrodes 15 included in the respective first electrode groups 15G1, 15G2. The first electrode connecting sections 17 and the second electrode connecting sections 18 are connected to the first electrodes 15 and the second electrodes 16, respectively, with different periodic patterns. According to such a configuration, voltage is supplied to the first electrode connecting section 17 so that the first electrodes 15 included in the same first electrode group 15G1 or 15G2 are collectively supplied with power. The number of the first electrode connecting sections 17 is same as that of the first electrode groups 15G1, 15G2. Therefore, it can be selected whether the first electrodes 15 included in each of the first electrode groups 15G1, 15G2 are supplied with power or not by selecting whether or not to supply voltage to each of the first electrode connecting sections 17. Compared to a configuration in which each of the first electrodes 15 is controlled to determine whether or not to be supplied with power, a circuit configuration for controlling power supply or no power supply to the first electrodes 15 can be simplified. The first electrode connecting sections 17 and the second electrode connecting sections 18 are connected to the first electrodes 15 and the second electrodes 16, respectively, with different periodic patterns. According to such a configuration, the adjacent electrochromic layers 12 may have different combinations of the first electrode groups 15G1, 15G2 and the second electrode groups 16G1, 16G2 that include the first electrode 15 and the second electrode 16 that are contacted with the same electrochromic layer 12. Further, the combination thereof can be made with a periodic pattern. Accordingly, the view angle is controlled with wide variations.
The first electrode connecting sections 17 are connected to the first electrodes 15 such that the first electrode 15 included in the first electrode group 15G1 and one included in the first electrode group 15G2 are next to each other. The second electrode connecting sections 18 are connected to the second electrodes 16 such that the second electrodes 16 included in the same second electrode group 16G1 or 16G2 are arranged next to each other. According to such a configuration, the first electrode connecting sections 17 that are connected to the first electrodes 15 such that the first electrodes 15 included in the different first electrode groups 15G1 and 15G2 are next to each other have a periodic pattern. On the other hand, the second electrode connecting sections 18 are connected to the second electrodes 16 such that the second electrodes 16 included in the same second electrode group 16G1 or 16G2 are arranged next to each other have a periodic pattern that is different from that of the first electrode connecting sections 17.
The electrochromic layers 12 have light absorption spectrum characteristics such that the optical absorptance is increased when power is suppled thereto compared to a case when no power is supplied. Accordingly, when the device is used while the view angle being not restricted, the electrodes 15, 16 are not necessary to be supplied with power. Therefore, if using of the device while restricting the view angle is only temporal, the power consumption can be reduced.
The first substrate 13 and the second substrate 14 are provided. The first electrodes 15 are formed on the plate surface of the first substrate 13 and are sandwiched between at least the electrochromic layers 12 and the first substrate 13. The second electrodes 16 are formed on the plate surface of the second substrate 14 and are sandwiched between at least the electrochromic layers 12 and the second substrate 14. According to such a configuration, in the producing, the first electrodes 15 are formed on the plate surface of the first substrate 13 and the second electrodes 16 are formed on the plate surface of the second substrate 14 and then, the first substrate 13 and the second substrate 14 are disposed to sandwich the electrochromic layers 12 and the light transmission layers 11 therebetween. The first electrodes 15 and the second electrodes 16 are formed easily and the first electrodes 16 are positioned corresponding to the respective electrochromic layers 12 easily and therefore, the productivity is preferably improved.
Second EmbodimentA second embodiment will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
In a view angle control sheet 110, as described in the first embodiment section, it can be selected whether all of the electrodes 115, 116 are supplied with power or not, and also it can be selected that a half number of the first electrodes 115 are supplied with no power and the another half number of the first electrodes 115 and the second electrode 116 are supplied with power. For example, one of the two first electrode connecting sections is not supplied with power and another one of the two first electrode connecting sections is supplied with power so that the first electrodes 115 included in the one electrode connecting section 115G1 are not supplied with power and the first electrodes 115 included in the other first electrode group 115G2 and the second electrode 116 are supplied with power. In such a configuration, as illustrated in
As described before, according to the present embodiment, the second electrode 116 extends over the electrochromic layers 112 and is contacted with the electrochromic layers 112. According to such a configuration, an electrode structure of the second electrode 116 becomes simple compared to a configuration including multiple second electrodes 116 similar to the first electrodes 115. Accordingly, the second electrode 116 can be produced easily.
Third EmbodimentA third embodiment will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
As described before, the present embodiment includes the first electrode driving section 19 that is connected to each of the first electrodes 215 and can supply power to the first electrodes 215 separately. Accordingly, a specific one of the first electrodes 215 can be supplied with power and the rest of the first electrodes 215 are not supplied with power by the first electrode driving section 19. The variation in controlling a view angle is further increased.
Other EmbodimentsThe present technology is not limited to the embodiments described in the above descriptions and drawings. The following embodiments may be included in the technical scope.
(1) In the first embodiment, the first electrodes and the second electrodes are divided into two electrode groups, respectively; however, the first electrodes and the second electrodes may be divided into three groups or more, respectively. In such a configuration, three or more first electrode connecting sections and three or more second electrode connecting section may be provided.
(2) In the first and second embodiments, the first electrodes included in the one first electrode group and the first electrodes included in the other first electrode group are arranged alternately one by one; however, the first electrodes may be arranged such that the first electrodes included in the one first electrode group are arranged next to each other and subsequently the first electrodes included in the other first electrode group may be arranged next to each other.
(3) In the first embodiment, every two of the second electrodes included in the one second electrode group and every two of the second electrodes included in the other second electrode group are alternately arranged; however, the second electrodes may be arranged such that three or more second electrodes included in the one second electrode group may be arranged next to each other and subsequently three or more second electrodes included in the other second electrode group may be arranged next to each other. Other than that, the second electrodes included in the one second electrode group and the second electrodes included in the other second electrode group may be alternately arranged one by one.
(4) In the second embodiment, the first electrodes are divided into two electrode groups; however, the first electrodes may be divided into three or more electrode groups. In such a configuration, three or more first electrode connecting section may be included.
(5) In the second embodiment, the second electrode is disposed in a solid manner; however, multiple second electrodes may be disposed similarly to the first embodiment and the first electrode may be disposed in a solid manner.
(6) In the first and second embodiments, the first connecting sections and the second connecting sections are connected to the first electrodes and the second electrodes, respectively, so as to have different periodic patterns; however, the first electrode connecting sections and the second connecting sections may be connected to the first electrodes and the second electrodes, respectively, so as to have a same periodic pattern.
(7) The third embodiment is configured to include the second electrode formed in a solid pattern as is in the second embodiment; however, the third embodiment may include multiple second electrodes similarly to the first embodiment.
(8) As a modification of the above (7), a second electrode driving section may be further disposed on the second substrate on which the second electrodes are arranged, and the second electrode driving section is connected to each of the first electrodes and configured to control the first electrodes independently. According to such a configuration, supply of power or no supply of power to the first electrodes and the second electrodes can be selected more freely with the first electrode driving section and the second electrode driving section. Therefore, the view angle for an image displayed on the display device can be adjusted with a greater number of steps.
(9) In each of the above embodiments, the view angle control sheet has a flat plate surface. If a display panel of a display device that includes the view angle sheet has a curved display surface, a plate surface of the view angle control sheet may be preferably curved along the display surface. In such a case, the first substrate and the second substrate that are included in the view angle control sheet may be preferably made of synthetic resin material to provide them with flexibility. Other than that, the first substrate and the second substrate that are included in the view angle control sheet may be made of glass to provide them with flexibility by adjusting thickness thereof.
(10) Each of the above embodiments includes the electrochromic layers that are substantially transparent when supplied with no power; however, electrochromic layers that do not become transparent but become in a bright color (brighter than a color when supplied with power) may be used.
(11) Each of the above embodiments includes the electrochromic layers that become black when supplied with power; however, electrochromic layers that become in a dark color other than black (darker than a color when supplied with no color) may be used. Electrochromic layers that are not colored but become opaque when supplied with power may be used.
(12) In each of the above embodiments, the electrochromic layers have the light absorption spectrum characteristics such that the optical absorptance is increased when power is supplied thereto compared to a case when no power is supplied; however, the electrochromic layers may have light absorption spectrum characteristics such that the optical absorptance is increased when no power is supplied thereto compared to a case when power is supplied.
(13) Other than each of the above embodiments, specific electrochromic material used for the electrochromic layers may be altered as appropriate. Specific material used for the light transmission layers and each electrode may be also altered as appropriate.
(14) Other than each of the above embodiments, specific values of various dimensions of the light transmission layers, the electrochromic layers, the first electrodes, and the second electrodes may be altered as appropriate. For example, the width dimensions of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the electrochromic layer may not be necessarily the same. The width dimensions of the first electrode and the second electrode may not be necessarily the same.
(15) In each of the above embodiments, the view angle control sheet is used in combination with the display device; however, the view angle control sheet may be used in other devices as appropriate.
Claims
1. A view angle control device comprising:
- light transmission layers that are arranged at intervals in a first direction and through which light passes;
- electrochromic layers having light absorption spectrum characteristics according to voltages applied thereto, the electrochromic layers and the light transmission layers being formed at a same layer level and arranged alternately in the first direction;
- first electrodes arranged at intervals and disposed on one side with respect to the electrochromic layers and arranged to be overlapped with the electrochromic layers and contacted with the electrochromic layers, respectively; and
- second electrodes arranged at intervals and disposed on an opposite side from the first electrodes with respect to the electrochromic layers and arranged to be overlapped with and contacted with the electrochromic layers, respectively.
2. The view angle control device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrodes include first group first electrodes and second group first electrodes, and the view angle control device further comprising:
- a first connecting section connected to the first group first electrodes; and
- a second connecting section connected to the second group first electrodes.
3. The view angle control device according to claim 2, wherein the first group first electrodes and the second group first electrodes are arranged alternately in the first direction.
4. The view angle control device according to claim 2, wherein the second electrodes include first group second electrodes and second group second electrodes, and the view angle control device further comprising:
- a third connecting section connected to the first group second electrodes; and
- a fourth connecting section connected to the second group second electrodes.
5. The view angle control device according to claim 4, wherein the first group second electrodes and the second group second electrodes are arranged in a different arrangement pattern from that of the first group first electrodes and the second group first electrodes.
6. The view angle control device according to claim 5, wherein
- the first group first electrodes and the second group first electrodes are arranged alternately in the first direction, and
- the first group second electrodes and the second group second electrodes are arranged in the first direction such that at least two of the first group second electrodes are arranged next to each other.
7. The view angle control device according to claim 4, wherein
- the first electrodes extend in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and include first ends and second ends that are opposite ends from the first ends,
- the first ends of the first group first electrodes are connected to the first connecting section and the second ends of the second group first electrodes are connected to the second connecting section,
- the second electrodes extend in the second direction and include first ends and second ends that are opposite ends from the first ends of the second electrodes, and
- the first ends of the first group second electrodes are connected to the third connecting section and the second ends of the second group second electrodes are connected to the fourth connecting section.
8. The view angle control device according to claim 7, wherein the first group second electrodes and the second group second electrodes are arranged in a different arrangement pattern from that of the first group first electrodes and the second group first electrodes.
9. The view angle control device according to claim 8, wherein
- the first group first electrodes and the second group first electrodes are arranged alternately in the first direction, and
- the first group second electrodes and the second group second electrodes are arranged in the first direction such that at least two of the first group second electrodes are arranged next to each other.
10. The view angle control device according to claim 2, wherein
- the first electrodes extend in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and include first ends and second ends that are opposite ends from the first ends, and
- the first ends of the first group first electrodes are connected to the first connecting section and the second ends of the second group first electrodes are connected to the second connecting section.
11. The view angle control device according to claim 1, wherein the second electrodes include first group second electrodes and second group second electrodes, and the view angle control device further comprising:
- a third connecting section connected to the first group second electrodes; and
- a fourth connecting section connected to the second group second electrodes.
12. The view angle control device according to claim 11, wherein
- the second electrodes extend in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and include first ends and second ends that are opposite ends from the first ends, and
- the first ends of the first group second electrodes are connected to the third connecting section and the second ends of the second group second electrodes are connected to the fourth connecting section.
13. The view angle control device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic layers include electrochromic material that have light absorption spectrum characteristics such that optical absorptance is increased when power is supplied thereto compared to a case when no power is supplied.
14. The view angle control device according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a first substrate having a plate surface on which the first electrodes are disposed, the first substrate and at least the electrochromic layers sandwiching the first electrodes therebetween; and
- a second substrate having a plate surface on which the second electrodes are disposed, the second substrate and at least the electrochromic layers sandwiching the second electrodes therebetween.
15. The view angle control device according to claim 1, wherein
- the electrochromic layers have a first width measured in the first direction,
- the first electrodes have a second width measured in the first direction,
- the second electrodes have a third width measured in the first direction, and
- the first width, the second width, and the third width are same.
16. The view angle control device according to claim 1, wherein the light transmission layers are made of transparent synthetic resin.
17. A view angle control device comprising:
- light transmission layers that include transparent synthetic resin material and through which light passes, the light transmission layers being separated from each other and arranged at intervals in a first direction;
- electrochromic layers including electrochromic material that have light absorption spectrum characteristics according to voltages applied thereto, the electrochromic layers being separated from each other, the electrochromic layers and the light transmission layers being formed at a same layer level and arranged alternately in the first direction;
- first electrodes arranged at intervals and disposed on one side with respect to the electrochromic layers and arranged to be overlapped with the electrochromic layers and contacted with the electrochromic layers, respectively; and
- a second electrode arranged at intervals and disposed on an opposite side from the first electrodes with respect to the electrochromic layers and arranged to be overlapped with and contacted with the electrochromic layers.
18. The view angle control device according to claim 17, wherein the second electrode extends over the electrochromic layers and is contacted with the electrochromic layers.
19. The view angle control device according to claim 17, further comprising a first electrode driving section connected to the first electrodes and configured to supply power to each of the first electrodes independently.
20. The view angle control device according to claim 17, wherein
- the electrochromic layers have a first width measured in the first direction,
- the first electrodes have a second width measured in the first direction, and
- the first width and the second width are same.
21. The view angle control device according to claim 17, wherein the first electrodes include first group first electrodes and second group first electrodes, and the view angle control device further comprising:
- a first connecting section connected to the first group first electrodes; and
- a second connecting section connected to the second group first electrodes.
22. The view angle control device according to claim 21, wherein the first group first electrodes and the second group first electrodes are arranged alternately in the first direction.
23. The view angle control device according to claim 21, wherein
- the first electrodes extend in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and include first ends and second ends that are opposite ends from the first ends, and
- the first ends of the first group first electrodes are connected to the first connecting section and the second ends of the second group first electrodes are connected to the second connecting section.
24. The view angle control device according to claim 17, wherein the light transmission layers are made of transparent synthetic resin.
20180067345 | March 8, 2018 | Tang |
2007-155784 | June 2007 | JP |
WO2014084065 | June 2014 | JP |
- English translation of JP WO2014084065, machine translated on Oct. 6, 2021. (Year: 2017).
Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 27, 2019
Date of Patent: Nov 15, 2022
Patent Publication Number: 20200124885
Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA (Sakai)
Inventor: Mikihiro Noma (Osaka)
Primary Examiner: Jie Lei
Application Number: 16/586,638
International Classification: G02F 1/13 (20060101); G02F 1/155 (20060101); G02F 1/163 (20060101);